Intermediate
Technical
IVT
external lumbar drain
Also written as: ELD
A catheter placed in the lumbar subarachnoid space to drain cerebrospinal fluid and monitor pressure.
Full Definition
An external lumbar drain is a temporary catheter system inserted into the lumbar subarachnoid space, typically at L3-L4 or L4-L5 level, to drain cerebrospinal fluid and measure lumbar CSF pressure. It is commonly used in neurocritical care for managing normal pressure hydrocephalus, CSF leaks, or when ventricular access is not feasible. The system allows controlled CSF drainage and can help predict shunt responsiveness in hydrocephalus patients.
Usage
Usage note: Specify drainage parameters (rate, height) in clinical documentation
In Context
- "An external lumbar drain was placed to test shunt responsiveness in normal pressure hydrocephalus." — Pre-operative planning
- "The external lumbar drain was set to drain 10mL/hour with a height of 15cm above the midbrain." — ICU orders
Also known as
ELD
lumbar drain
lumbar catheter
Contrasted with
ventricular drain
Don't confuse with
lumbar puncture
spinal drain
EVD